Exhaust conduit hanger

Abstract

An exhaust hanger assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket, a clip, and a rod. The bracket includes a peripheral wall having a non-circular cross section. The bracket includes a first end configured to be fixed to an exhaust pipe of the vehicle and a second end including first and second receivers formed in peripheral wall. The clip is disposed around at least a portion of an outer surface of the bracket and fixed to the bracket. The clip includes opposing apertures. The rod, which is configured to be fixed to a body of the vehicle, extends through the opposing apertures of the clip and is fixed to the clip. The rod is disposed within the first and second receivers of the bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An exhaust hanger assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a bracket comprising a peripheral wall having a non-circular cross section, the bracket including a first end configured to be fixed to an exhaust pipe of the vehicle and a second end including first and second receivers, wherein the first receiver is formed in a front portion of the peripheral wall and the second receiver is formed in a back portion of the peripheral wall; 
 a clip disposed around at least a portion of an outer surface of the bracket and fixed to the bracket, the clip comprising opposing apertures; and 
 a rod configured to be fixed to a body of the vehicle, the rod extending through the opposing apertures of the clip and fixed to the clip, wherein the rod is disposed within the first and second receivers of the bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rod includes a first longitudinal axis and the exhaust pipe includes a second longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       3. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second welds, wherein the first and second welds join an outer surface of the rod to respective clip surfaces adjacent to the opposing apertures. 
     
     
       4. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vertical welds extending substantially vertically relative to a surface along which the vehicle is adapted to travel, wherein each vertical weld is disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the bracket and an edge of the clip. 
     
     
       5. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of substantially vertical welds comprises four welds and each weld is disposed on the peripheral wall of the bracket. 
     
     
       6. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a front portion at least partially disposed around the front portion of the peripheral wall of the bracket and a back portion at least partially disposed around the back portion of the peripheral wall of the bracket. 
     
     
       7. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first gap disposed between the front portion of the peripheral wall of the bracket and the front portion of the clip; and 
 a second gap disposed between the back portion of the peripheral wall of the bracket and the back portion of the clip. 
 
     
     
       8. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket has a polygonal cross section and an outer surface and the clip has an inner surface that complements the outer surface of the bracket. 
     
     
       9. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the bracket has a rectangular cross section. 
     
     
       10. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises a unitary structure. 
     
     
       11. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a press fit is provided between an outer surface of the rod and respective inner surfaces of the opposing apertures. 
     
     
       12. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the unitary structure of the clip includes one or more weight reduction openings. 
     
     
       13. An exhaust hanger assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a rod and clip subassembly comprising a clip comprising opposing apertures and a rod extending through the opposing apertures of the clip and joined to the clip, wherein the rod is configured to be fixed to a body of the vehicle; and 
 a bracket comprising a peripheral wall and opposing receivers formed in the peripheral wall, wherein the opposing receivers are configured to receive the rod, and wherein the clip is configured to be disposed around and fixed to at least a portion of an outer surface of the peripheral wall of the bracket. 
 
     
     
       14. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket comprises a longitudinal axis and the rod is configured move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis within the opposing receivers during assembly so that the rod and clip subassembly is configured to be adjustable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis during assembly. 
     
     
       15. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the rod includes a longitudinal axis and the clip comprises opposing inner surfaces defining a first dimension, the peripheral wall of the bracket includes opposing outer surfaces defining a second dimension, and the first dimension is greater than the second dimension so that the rod and clip subassembly is configured to be adjustable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis during assembly prior to being fixed to the bracket. 
     
     
       16. The exhaust hanger assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the bracket and a side edge of the clip form a tilt angle greater than or equal to −5° and less than or equal to +5°. 
     
     
       17. A method of assembling an exhaust hanger assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 extending a rod through a clip to define a subassembly, wherein the rod is configured to be fixed to a body of the vehicle; 
 positioning the clip around an outer surface of a bracket having a first longitudinal axis, a peripheral wall, and opposing receivers in the peripheral wall; 
 placing the rod within the opposing receivers of the bracket; 
 fixing the rod to the clip; and 
 fixing the clip to the bracket. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 prior to the fixing the clip to the bracket, adjusting a placement of the subassembly in a first direction by moving the rod within the opposing receivers in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis; 
 adjusting the placement of the subassembly in a second direction by moving the subassembly in a direction parallel to a second longitudinal axis of the rod; and 
 adjusting a tilt angle between the first longitudinal axis a side edge of the clip. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method comprises extending the rod through the clip and fixing the rod to the clip prior to positioning the clip around the outer surface of the bracket. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 prior to defining the subassembly, inserting the rod in opposing apertures of the clip and forming respective circular welds between an outer surface of the rod and respective surfaces of the clip adjacent to the opposing apertures.